Process of dissolving nitrated cellulose.



UN1TED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT QFFI EQ PROCESS OF DissoLyme. NITRATED CELLULOSEL E)I?EGIIFlICA'I.ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 67,944, dated August 16, 1904.

Original application filed February 9, 1900, Serial No. 4,684. Divided and this application filed April '7, 1900. Renewed-April 15,

- l 1904. Serial No. 203,375. (No specimens.) k I To mZZ whom, it vnay concern.-

Be it known that I, ISIDOR Krrsnn, of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Dissolving Nitrated Cellulose, a specification. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in the process of dissolving nitrated cellulose, and this my application has more special reference to dissolving nitrated cellulose with the aid of the fumes of a suitable solvent.

This application is a'division of application filed February 9, 1900, under Serial No. 4,684, in which application the use of acetic acid is advocated and claimed, and this my application has more special reference to the application of fumes of suitable solvents in general.

It is well known to persons employed in the manufacture of nitrated cellulose for explosive purposes, as well as for commercial purposes in general, that a great percentage of the cellulose is a waste product, for the reason that it is hardly possible to bring the whole.

mass to be nitrated to one and the same condition. In the production of gun-cotton the nitration has to be so far advanced that a hexanitrate is produced. All particles not nitrated .so highly are only detrimental to the product and are waste. Again, in the manufacture of celluloid and like compounds the nitration is only carried out to a point known in the art as triple or quadruple. In all these processes certain groups of nitrates are formed which have different composition and are therefore unsuited for the purpose for which the nitration is carried on. More specially is this the case in the production of explosive nitrates. Compounds are formed which are to a slight degree soluble in the same solutions. as the tetrates are .soluble. This waste cannot be used for the purpose of making of same products known in commerce as celluloid, Xylonite, pyralinf &c. They are wastes that have to be worked over and the composition of which is often such as not to compensate for the reworking. These wastes cannot be dissolved with the aid ofheat or pressure in their dry of which the following is state, -for the reason that they are of too eX- plosive a nature. Most of thesewastes are soluble in the solvents usually employed in the process of dissolving soluble cellulose; but

to dissolve the nitrated cellulose it isnot only necessary to employ the amount of solvent which is capable of changingthe condition of to-day the nitrated cellulose has to be provided with such an amount of solvent that it can enthe cellulose, but in the processas carried on tirely dissolve in the same, and after having quoted too high for general commercial purposes and can be employed only in some special art.

The object of my invention is to obviate this difliculty to enable persons versed in the art 1 products of such nitration in a far more ecoto dissolve the nitrated cellulose or the waste nomical manner than was heretofore the case.

The underlying principle of my invention is the dissolving of the nitrated cellulose with the aid of fumes acting as solvent on such nitrated cellulose.

The modem opercmde' of practicing my invention is as follows: The nitrated product, no matter if one or more groups of different nitrations are present or if all or part only is soluble, is placed into the receiver of a distilling apparatus in a manner so that fumes passing through said receiver will have to penetrate every part of the material. receiver is connected with a retort filled with the solvent. On the other side the receiver is connected, preferably with interposition of a worm, with a condensing-reservoir. is then applied to the retort, and the fumes of the, solvent will be carried into the receiver, will penetrate the particles of nitrated cellulose, and will dissolve the same. process has been carried on to a point necessary the either dissolved or only plastic material is then used in the same manner as celluloid is used today. In some cases moisture This Heat

After the has to be present, so that the best action of the fumes on the nitrated product should be obtained. In this case I use a separate reservoir filled With Water and carry the vapor of the Water, in conjunction with the fumes of the solvent, to the nitrated product, or the nitrated product may be placed in the receiver moistened With the Water it absorbed during the process of Washing. In some casesas, for instance, Where an amyl acetate and crude acetone are intermixed-no separate moisture needs to be applied, because sufficient moisture is carried with the fumes of the crude acetone.

If it is necessary to have the dissolved product of a nature so as to remain for a comparatively great length of time plastic, it is needful to use a solution of amyl acetate, and if crude acetone is mixed With said acetate the fumes of the acetate will carry with them enough moisture from the crude acetone 'to allow the fumes to act in a manner as if the solution of the acetate itself would have been applied to the nitrated product.

1, do not deem it necessary to illustrate the process described, as different apparatuses may be employed, all of which are well known to persons versed in the art.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The process of dissolving nitratcd cellulose, the same consisting in subjecting cellulose in previous nitrated condition to the fumes of a suitable solvent.

In testimony whereof I hereby sign my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 5th day of April, 1900.

ISIDOR vKllTSEE.

Witnesses:

\NALLAee B. ELDRIDGE, EDITH P. STILLEY. 

